ipl-logo

The Impact Of The OCO-Two

992 Words4 Pages

Half of the amount of carbon dioxide generated into the atmosphere is absorbed by plants and the sea water. However, the remaining amount accumulates into the atmosphere causing the greenhouse effect (Boesch 5). Consequently, these changes require accurate data on the distribution of carbon dioxide to manage it. OCO-2 provides precise data that scientists can use to monitor the distribution of carbon dioxide. In particular, it provides data that can be used to improve the existing carbon cycle models which facilitate the reduction of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (Boesch 5) The OCO-2 provides data that can be applied in predicting accurately the carbon concentration in the atmosphere in future. This reduces the uncertainty that is associated …show more content…

The impact of the mission includes:
a) OCO-2 has enhanced the way the concentration of carbon dioxide is measured. It provides data that is precise and more detailed such that the distribution and concentration can be measured more accurately (NASA.gov). Any changes in the level of concentration are also detected hence providing sufficient information to support carbon cycle. This has enhanced the ability of human beings to control the effects of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
b) The OCO-2 is able to calculate accurately the levels of Carbon Dioxide passes over any given water mass especially through the glint mode. The data collected enables people to understand how these masses of water such as the seas and oceans absorb the gas (NASA.gov). Consequently, researchers are able to understand the dynamics of ocean carbon exchange such as absorption relative to sea levels, or absorption rate per a given area of the water …show more content…

Previously, devices were not able to measure the levels of carbon distribution in such territories due to the terrains in such regions (NASA.gov). This limited how researchers could understand the changes that occurred in the region. These changes included the decreasing ice layers which have been associated with global warming and climatic changes in the region. However, there has been no accurate information on how the melting ice affected the already existing Carbon Dioxide levels especially due to the ability of large masses of water to absorb the gas.
d) The data received from the OCO-2 has also contributed in understanding how various elements such as weather fronts, storms, and hurricanes affect the carbon cycle. Often, such events as storms and hurricane are expected to change the distribution or composition of air at the point at which they happen (NASA.gov). Moreover, the changes in the atmospheric pressure that leads to such strong winds as a hurricane may also affect the composition of air at any given time. Sea storms may also alter the altitudes of sea levels. The OCO-2 provides data that can help understand these changes

Show More
Related

Hcs/690 Climate Change Research Paper

1380 Words | 6 Pages

Because of this, it is hard to tell the extent to which the greenhouse gases destroy the ozone (Oppenheim 89). In addition, scientists have not had observations from space for a long enough period to see long-term trends in the climate. Scientists also lacks the techniques to detect the small changes involved in climate change. This lack of technologies and technique to predict or tell what is taking place in the space limits or hinder the climate change mitigation strategies (Oppenheim 89). Fortunately, satellite-born systems are now being developed to measure the radiation balance.

Read More

How The Cores Of Ice Can Help Us Decode The Climate Of The Past

298 Words | 2 Pages

Every year, it captures sediments such as dust and sea salts. It can even collect human pollutants. If we know what each layer of ice counts for in years, we can figure out the average temperature per year and see any recent climate events, such as a volcanic eruption. This technique is called dating.

Read More

John Higgins In Antarctica Essay

448 Words | 2 Pages

Questions like this, says Higgins, are what “drive the curiosity of climate scientists.” And when it comes to probing for answers, there’s no better place to start than on Antarctica’s frozen landscape. Ice, explains Higgins, traps gases such as carbon dioxide and methane – and what’s more, it preserves them remarkably well. Thus, “quality” ice samples can provide geologists like Higgins with a window into the past – and a peek at what future climate conditions could look like if greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. “Ice cores,” says Higgins, “are seminal for understanding humans’ role in climate systems and how changes in CO2 affect changes in climate.”

Read More

How Does Hydrochloric Acid Affect The Amount Of Calcium Carbonate

2075 Words | 9 Pages

The experiment was carried out in order to record the amount of carbon dioxide created with varying amounts of calcium carbonate. The hypothesis stated that the more calcium carbonate was added, the more carbon dioxide would be produced. This statement was supported by the results collected from the experiment. The setup for the

Read More

What Is The Indian Ocean Experiment Widespread Air Pollution From Southeast Asia

600 Words | 3 Pages

Meaning, the pollution stays in one area because the winds are suppressed and no longer have the capability of spreading out the polluted air. The author also reveals that the study took place in the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) to study primary pollutants over a large area and so the scientists could compare the polluted air to air in an otherwise clean area. Aerosol tests were taken to discover large amounts of inorganic and organic pollutants as well as black carbon. The Aerosol over the ocean was deemed as similar to that of suburban pollution in North America and Europe. However, since the black carbon concentration was so high the mass had a powerful sunlight absorption characteristic that increased the overall temperature of the area.

Read More

Parallel Lines

655 Words | 3 Pages

We read a book titled, “You Are Here” which showed the detailed effects of global climate change around the world. It gave examples like the coastline being eaten away by rising water levels in Shishmaref, Alaska and the smog in Linfen, China. It also doesn’t boggle my mind because we are seeing the effects of it here in Edinboro, with our unusually warm

Read More

War Of The Worlds Analysis

608 Words | 3 Pages

Researchers say that approximately 2,000 pounds of co2 are released into the atmosphere each day due to these spacecrafts. A greenhouse gas emission this large will encourage a more prominent climate change-something the environment cannot

Read More

Biografiable Link Between Carbon Sequestration And Climate Change

1853 Words | 8 Pages

In order to negotiate with the raw carbon dioxide amounts, the Earth has pockets, globally, of what are called “carbon sinks”. These carbon sinks take many forms, such as oceans and forests. They redress the carbon dioxide produce by humans through the procedure of absorption, hence the name of “carbon sinks”. How they do this is through the carbon sinks is through the process of carbon sequestration. Carbon sequestration is when the carbon is removed from the atmosphere and deposited in reservoirs, such as plants and soil.

Read More

Arctic Animals And Climate Change Essay

766 Words | 4 Pages

The large amount of carbon dioxide was produced by human activities such as burning gases, woods, and burning coal. Clearing forests also releases large amounts of carbon dioxide. Worldwide deforestation means that we don’t

Read More

Essay About Climate Change

765 Words | 4 Pages

When all these extra gases are released, carbon dioxide stars to accumulate in the atmosphere. Climate change is a global issue because when the temperature of the Earth changes even very slightly, it can cause droughts and our crops can die. This is affecting our food supply. Also, when water levels rise even slightly, it can be very destructive for

Read More

Ocean Acidification Essay

861 Words | 4 Pages

Ever since the industrial revolution commenced, around one third of the carbon dioxide released by human interference has been absorbed by the ocean, which is one of the reasons of the drastic change in climate as well. Without the ocean absorbing carbon dioxide, the carbon dioxide n the atmosphere would be drastically higher, with possibly increasing the levels of climate change. The point of the research is to see how will the pH affect the organisms in the marine ecosystem and does carbonation affect an organism’s mass and form. Many organisms that are part of the marine food chain are going to be affected by ocean acidification due the levels of acidity deteriorating the calcium carbonate within the animal. It turns out

Read More

Environmental Change In The Pleistocene Epoch

1358 Words | 6 Pages

When air is trapped at the base of an ice core and the compacted snow turns into ice, the air is trapped in bubbles. The concentration of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane in the layers of ice cores is evidence of how climate has changed in the past, as ice core data has shown that there were high concentrations of carbon dioxide during interglacials and low levels of carbon dioxide during glacials. It also allows scientists to compare modern concentration of greenhouse gases to the past as well as links between past concentrations of greenhouse gases to temperature (Davies, 2015). Data has suggested that when there is a change in carbon dioxide concentration in the surface waters of the ocean this may affect atmospheric concentrations, which could result in the warming or cooling to the Earth’s climate. The fact that the concentration of carbon dioxide in the environment is linked to temperature shows that small changes in climate can be amplified by an increase or decrease in carbon

Read More

Antarctica Glaciers Climate Change

799 Words | 4 Pages

The annual mean of the air temperature is about -9 ℃ isotherm has moved southwards, makes the result in ice-shelf collapse and glacier recession. Ice core provides a longer-period of perspective on climate over the past of four global cycles or longer. Methane and carbon dioxide atmospheric concentration are higher which recorded in ice core in the last 650 000 years. The ice cores also records that carbon dioxide and temperature is cross-linking with each other over the last 400 thousand years, which have strong connection between ‘greenhouse gases’ and temperature. According to Dyurgerov & Meier (2000), the rise in air temperature suggested by the temperature sensitivities of glaciers in cold regions is somewhat greater than the global average temperature rise derived largely from low altitude gauges, and the warming is

Read More

Essay On Carbon Footprinting

2332 Words | 10 Pages

1. Introduction: Carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of the important green house gases (GHGs) emitted in the atmosphere through various human and natural activities. The human activities include rapid industrialization and urbanization, deforestation, excessive use of fertilizers in agriculture, excessive use of fuels, papers and many other manmade resources whereas natural activities include volcano eruption, forest fires, earthquakes etc. Emission of GHGs in the atmosphere leads to global warming which is one of the primary reasons behind the atmospheric changes that affect the human life directly or indirectly. The consequences of global warming are extremely harsh seasons, untimely rains, extended summers and floods that results in human deaths, destruction of flora and fauna in addition to the huge economical losses.

Read More

Climate Change Causes

1593 Words | 7 Pages

In its Fifth Assessment Report, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change stated that “there’s a more than 95% probability that human activities over the past 50 years have warmed our planet” and that “industrial activities that our modern civilisation depends upon have raised atmospheric carbon dioxide levels from 280ppm to 400ppm in the last 150 years” (2014). Over the past couple of years, the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal and oil has led to a significant increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere, which has directly led to global warming. As the name suggests, global warming has resulted in warming up of the planet, with some regions welcoming warmers temperatures, leading to increased evaporation and precipitation, thereby resulting in hurricanes and floods in some regions, and droughts and heat waves in others. Warmer temperatures are not limited to land masses; they have extended to the waters of the oceans, partially melting glaciers, thus leading to rising sea levels. These higher temperatures and shifting climate patterns may also change the make-up of natural plant

Read More

More about The Impact Of The OCO-Two

Related Topics

Open Document